Lydia’s win is ‘one of year’s top golf stories’
LYDIA HALL becoming the first woman to win a National PGA Professional Championship event is one of the golfing stories of the year, writes Tony Poole.
She navigated the demanding Tenby links with rounds of 71 and 67 to finish two under par on 138.
In her one over par opening round, Lydia birdied the par three second hole only to card two bogeys. The following day, she ran through the field with birdies on holes two, five, 10, 13 and 14 with bogeys on eight and 15.
However, a key element in her stunning victory was matching par over the last three holes when others faltered.
One of the runnersup, Tom Phillips (Hadley Wood), had a chance to force a playoff but missed a short putt on the last.
Phillips and Matt Tottey (North Wales GC) were both one shot back; fourth-placed Toby Hunt (St Mellons) finished even par with Stuart Runcie (Abergele) fifth on one over par.
“I was proud of the way Lydia won the PGA Professional Championship, and what she has achieved in the past,” said Lydia’s coach and Southerndown director of golf John Peters.
“We’ve worked together since Lydia was 11 – she’s still improving and making history along the way.
“Hopefully, this is the start of even better things to come.’’
Incredibly, the day after, Lydia moved on to a WPGA Series event at the Salisbury & South Wiltshire club – and tied for victory along with Cornwall’s Katie Rule (Mullion).
Both girls carded four under par rounds of 69 to finish three shots clear of Sian Evans (Kings Hill).
“No way was the victory in Tenby going to prevent me competing in the WPGA Series,” explained Lydia, who is attached to Hensol Golf Academy and an honorary member of the Southerndown club.
“It was a bit hectic with an early start, but I’m committed to whatever is in my diary.’’
However, because of a Scottish trip, Lydia will miss the next WPGA event later this month.
But she will compete in the final round at South Hertfordshire when the annual WPGA Order of Merit title is up for grabs.
However, Lydia wasn’t the only local golfer celebrating in Tenby last week as Royal Porthcawl professional Peter Evans was crowned Senior Welsh National PGA champion.
In the same competition as Lydia, he shot rounds of 73 and 75 for an eight over par total of 148, and a tie for 18th place.
On the same 148-mark were Huw Williams (Pyle & Kenfig) while Lydia’s coach, John Peters (Southerndown), came 35th with rounds of 75 and 78 for 153.
Other local interest came via Simon Askins (Southerndown) 154, Gareth Howell (Royal Porthcawl) 162, and Dan O’Connor (Maesteg) 165.
During round one, Evans shot a superb eagle on the 14th hole, and he also carded a birdie on the fifth while on day two, his card contained three birdies and eight bogeys.